National Federation of Independent Business

Visa, Mastercard settle long-running antitrust suit over swipe fees with merchants

Economy 03/26/2024

NEW YORK (AP) – Visa and Mastercard announced a major settlement with U.S. merchants on Tuesday, potentially ending nearly two decades of litigation over...

OFFERING ALTERNATIVES: Scott Kirmil, owner of the Diego’s restaurants in Rhode Island, displays the recyclable food containers his eateries use, a year before a ban on Styrofoam containers goes into effect. Opponents of the ban say small restaurants will have to bear additional costs.  PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

Restaurants preparing for ban on Styrofoam containers

Focus 01/19/2024

On one of his rare days off last summer, Scott Kirmil, owner of six Rhode Island eateries, with plans for a seventh, was sitting...

NFIB survey shows increasing optimism among small businesses

Economic Activity 03/26/2021

PROVIDENCE – A new survey from the National Federation of Independent Business found that 13% of small-business owners said they will have to close...

ON THE DAY the PPP program was depleted, the National Federation of Independent Business found that 80% of surveyed members were still awaiting funding with many uncertain of where they were in the application process./ AP FILE PHOTO/PAUL SANCYA

NFIB: On day PPP was depleted, 80% of small businesses were...

Coronavirus 04/21/2020

PROVIDENCE – A new survey from the National Federation of Independent Business found that as of April 17 nearly 80% of small-business owners that...

THE NFIB's Small Business Optimism Index posted its largest month-to-month decline in the index's history from February to March. / COURTESY NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES

NFIB: Small-business optimism index declines by record amount

Coronavirus 04/07/2020

PROVIDENCE – The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index fell 8.1 points in March to 96.4, the largest monthly decline in...

The $2 trillion CARES Act could provide lifelines for small business

Advice 04/03/2020

Many small businesses breathed a sigh of relief when Congress passed the $2 trillion CARES Act to help prevent them from going under during...

ADJUSTMENTS: Donna Murray, left, assistant director of labor market information at the R.I. Department of Labor and Training, goes over changes to Rhode Island’s unemployment and temporary disability insurance tax laws with Margaux Fontaine. / PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

R.I. makes changes to unemployment, TDI taxes

Financial Services 01/31/2020

Many Rhode Island employers could see a reduction in the amount of unemployment insurance tax they pay, while employees are on the hook for...

SMALL BUSINESSES in the U.S. reported it was a bit easier to hire in December despite a tight job market. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT

Smaller share of U.S. small businesses unable to fill positions

Economic Activity 01/09/2020

WASHINGTON – United States small businesses found it a little easier to fill jobs in December, consistent with a moderating, yet still-robust, labor market,...